Recording devices



Jan. 7, 1964 w. J. ZENNER 3,116,964

RECORDING DEVICES Filed Jan. 1l, 1962 INVEN TOR. WALTER IZENNER.

United States Patent O 3,116,964 RECGREENG DEVICES Walter I. Zennerg,Bes Plaines, lill., assignor to Peter G. S. Mero, Evanston, lill. FiledIlan. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 165,5@4 6 Ciains. (El. 346-146) This inventionrelates lto recording devices and more particularly to new and improvedrecording devices for graphic communication recording stations.

ln graphic communication systems messages, sketches, or other datatranscribed upon a writing surface at one station of the system are-automatically reproduced at a second station in the system. Usually,the initial transcription is accomplished manually. A system transmitterincludes suitable apparatus for Vanalyzing movements of a transmitterstylus or similar recording device and for developing electrical controlsignals representative of those movements. These signals are transmittedto and control the operation of a receiver. A preferred system of thisgeneral kind is described in United States Patent No. 2,583,535 toRobert Adler7 issued January 29, 1959, and in United States Patent No.2,649,503 to Robert Adler, issued August 18, 1953. In such graphiccommunication systems, it is also necessary to provide a means forperiodically replacing the recording medium, which is usually acontinuous paper web but may constitute individual sheets of paper orother suitable material. A control signal is falso transmitted to thereceiver to control the paper-feeding operation at the receiver, a paperfeed control apparatus of this kind being described and claimed inPatent No. 2,621,249 to T. l. Ress, issued December 9, 1952. K

`In many instances, it is desirable to use a liquid ink recordingarrangement at the transmitter or receiver of a graphic communicationsystem of the kind described briey hereinabove. Control of the inksupply, however, may present substantial problems. This is particularlytrue if the recording operation entails substantial vertical movement ofthe recording pen or stylus. Thus, if the pen is moved upwardly relativeto an initial starting position, and a gravity feed arrangement is usedfor the ink, there may be an insufficient supply of ink available at theupper limit of the pen movement. On the other hand, a downward movementof the pen may cause llooding of the recording surface. Similar problemsmay be encountered with lateral movement of the pen due to theacceleration forces involved. Thus, skipping and flooding, where aliquid ink supply is employed, may lead to substantial illegibility ofthe recorded message, the problems being most actuated where therecording surface is disposed in a substantially vertical plane, or atleast at a substantial angle to the horizontal.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide asubstantially constant ink supply, throughout the recording operation,in the operation of a graphic communication system recorder.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedrecording device, utilizing a liquid ink supply, that can be employedelectively in a graphic communication system recorder in which therecording surface is disposed at a substantial angle to the horizontal.

Another object of the invention is to minimize skipping and flooding inthe operation of a graphic communication system recorder that employs apen of the kind requiring a supply of liquid ink or other recordingfluid. Thus, the present invention is directed to a recording device fora graphic Comunication recording station. The recording device comprisesa recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet, usuallyordinary paper. A

Patented dan. 7, 1%@4 ice pen is provided, together with means formoving the pen across the recording base to record data on arecordreceiving sheet disposed on the base. An yauxiliary ink resem/oiris mechanically connected to the pen for movement therewith `and ismaintained lat a predetermined constant elevation relative to the pen.The main ink supply for the recording device is connected by conduitmeans to the axiliary reservoir, the pen also being connected to the inksupply in parallel with the auxiliary reservoir. A normally closed inksupply valve is interposed in the ink conduit means between the main inksupply and the parallel combination of the pen and reservoir. Means areprovided for opening this ink supply valve only during intervals betweenrecording operations so that the feeding of ink to the pen, during arecording operation, is restricted to the supply of ink available fromthe `auxiliary reservoir.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying theseprinciples. `Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be made as desired by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the present invention and the purview of theappended claims.

ln the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic elevation view of a recording deviceconstructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of one form of ink supply valvethat may be utilized in the invention.

FlG. 1 illustrates a graphic communication recording station 1th thatmay comprise either the transmitter or the receiver of `a graphiccommunication system. The recording station 1t) includes a recordingbase or platen 11 across which a paper web 12 extends. The paper web 12extends from a supply roll (not shown) that may be located behind theplaten 11, across a guide roller 13, and into engagement with a paperfeed roll 14. In the illustrated arrangement, the paper web 12 isprovided with a series of apertures 15 along each edge; these apertures15 are engaged by a series of projecting sprocket teeth 16 on the paperfeed roll 14.

The recording station 1l! further includes a pen support arm 17 thatcarries, at one end thereof, a pen 13. The pen 18 comprises a capillaryink feeder tube 19 that terminates in a nib 21 which engages the paperweb or other recording medium 12 to record a message thereon. The pensupport arm 17 forms a part of a pen linkage Z2 that is utilized tocontrol operation of the pen 18 when the recording station 16constitutes a receiver, the same linkage being employed in thedevelopment of coordinate control signals where the device 16constitutes a transmitter. Thus, the pen support arm 17 is pivotallymounted upon a driving arm 23, the driving arm '23` being mounted forrotation about an axis 24. The pen arm 17 is also connected by a link 2Sto a second driving arm 26 that is independently mounted for rotationwith respect to the axis 24.

Pivotal movement of the driving arm Z3 may be effected, relative to theaxis Z4, by a irst servo motor 27 to control movement of the pen 18along a first axis designated in FIG. 1 as the Y axis. The driving arm26 is connected by a pair of links 28 `and 29' to a second servo motor31. The servo motor 31 controls rotational movement of the drive -arm 26to actuate the pen arm 17 and move the pen 18 along a second axisdesignated as the X axis. This pantograph or pen linkage 22 isessentially similar in construction to that described and 3 claimed inthe aforementioned Patent No. 2,583,535 of Robert Adler and is of theform presently utilized in graphic communication equipment currentlymanufactured and sold by Comptometer Corporation.

The recording station l@ illustrated in FIG. l also includes means formoving the record-receiving sheet l2 across the recording base or platenll. This means comprises a motor 33 that is mechanically connected tothe feed roller lid. ln FTG. l, the connection is shown as a directshaft connection 3d, but it should be understood that a belt drive, geardrive, or other suitable drive arrangement may be employed to connectthe motor to the paper feed drive roll. The paper feed motor 33 iselectrically connected to a paper feed control device that constitutes acontrol means for actuating the motor when it is desired to remove aportion of the record-receiving paper web l2 from the platen and replaceit with a fresh section of the paper. The paper feed control 35 may beactuated by a sensing switch located adjacent one corner of the platenil and energized by movement of the recording pen l@ to that position,utilizing the control system described in detail in the aforementionedpatent of T. l. Ress, No. 2,62i,249. Gn the other hand, a separatemanually actuatable control switch or other control arrangement may beemployed for the paper feed control 35 without in any way departing fromthe present invention.

The recording station it), as thus far described, is quite conventionalin construction and, indeed., corresponds to that presently manufacturedand sold by Comptometer Corporation. Assuming that the device it) isutilized as the receiver in a graphic communication system, suitablesignals received from a transmitter unit are supplied to the servomotors 27 and 3l, driving the pen l across the recording medium l2 onthe base ll to inscribe a message thereon. The communication systemwould also include a pen-lift mechanism for moving the pen t8 through arelatively short distance toward and away from the recordreceiving sheetl2 to provide the necessary breaks between words and other elements ofan ordinary Written message. inasmuch as the pen-lift mechanism forms nopart of the present invention it has not been shown or described herein.

After a given message is recorded, it is necessary to provide a newrecord-receiving sheet for reception of the next message. To this end,the paper feed control 35 is actuated and supplies an actuating signalto the paper feed motor 33. The motor 313 drives the paper feed roll llithrough a predetermined number of revolutions to advance the paper sheetl2 across the recording base lll and thus supply a freshrecord-receiving sheet on the recording base. In receiver operation, thepaper feed control 35' is energized by a suitable signal from the transnmitter as described in detail in the aforementioned patent to T. I.Ress. The paper feed operation and the recording operation do notordinarily proceed simultaneously.

The present invention is concerned with the ink supply for the pen i3.It comprises an auxiliary inl: reservoir 4l that is mounted upon anextension portion l2 of the pen support arm i7. Thus, the auxiliaryreservoir il is mechanically connected to the pen for movementconjointly with the pen. Moreover, the reservoir di. is maintained at apredetermined constant elevation relative to the pen, regardless of theposition of the pen on the recording base l1. The reservoir 4lpreferably comprises a llexible resilient sac and may be fabricated fromany llexible plastic or elastomer material not subject to substantialcorrosion or other deterioration from contact with the particular inkused in the recording device 10.

The recording device l@ further includes a main ink supply which in thisinstance constitutes an ink bottle 43 that is mounted above the upperlimit of the recording base ll. A constant-Jressure pump or otherpositive ink supply can be utilized instead of the elevated inkreservoir 4. However, the gravity feed afforded by the illustrated ilarrangement is less expensive and in many ways more reliable thanpumping systems.

The main inl( supply i3 is connected by a series of ink conduits to boththe pen ll and the auxiliary reservoir dl.

he ink conduit means connecting the main ink supply 43 to the auxiliaryreservoir and the pen comprises, in series, a rst ink conduit and asecond ink conduit i5 connected thereto. The conduit i5 extends alongthe pantograph arm 2S, terminating in a "iconnection The T-connectiondo, in turn, is connected by a conduit 15.77 to the pen i8 and by aconduit fill to the auxiliary reservoir 4l. lt is thus seen that the inkconduit means fidi8 connects reservoir .'ll in parallel with the pen l@and connects ooth of these members to the ink main supply 43.

An inh supply valve 5l is interposed in the ink conduit means betweenthe main supply d3 and the pen l and reservoir dll. The valve il islocated at the junction of the conduit sections and d5. This valve is anormally closed device subject to external control effective to open thevalve and permit ink flow from the main supply 43 through the conduit i4and into the connecting conduit d5. in the preferred arrangementillustrated in FTG. 1, the device 5l is a solenoid operated valve andthus may be electrically actuated from its normally closed condition toan open condition. Suitable electrical connections are provided from thevalve 5l to the paper feed control 35 to permit application of the paperfeed control signal to the valve l. This makes it possible to open thevalve 5l during those intervals in which a paper feed operation iscarried out. On the other hand, the valve 5l is normally closed during arecording operation.

When it is iirst desired to place the recording device lo in operation,the auxiliary ink reservoir comprising the sac 4l is compressed. Thevalve 5l is then opened, either by energization of the paper feedcontrol 35 or by a separate auxiliary energizing circuit (not shown), toopen the connection benveen the conduits 44 and 45. When this is done,inl( ilotvs from the main supply i3 through the conduits id and i5 andinto the conduit Li7 that leads to the pen l. The conduit i7 is arelatively small capillary tube, and this is also true of the pen 18.Consequently, with the pen nib 2l held out of contact with the paper,the conduit i7 and the pen shank 19 till with the ink. However, no inkis forced out of the pen nib 2l. To assure this result, it is of coursenecessary to limit the pressure head in the system, provided by theelevation of the main ink supply i3 above the pen, but this is arelatively simpie matter to control.

Only a limited amount of ink ilows into the connecting conduit 43 whenthe valve 5l is irst opened. However, when the auxiliary reservoir il ispermitted to expand, the resulting partial vacuum within the auxiliaryreservoir draws ink upwardly toward the reservoir through the conduit itmay be difficult to obtain a substantial amount of ink in the reservoiril in the irst loading operation as described above, but this proceduremay be repeated several times, when the recording device lll is rstplaced in operation, until a reasonable quantity of ink is available inthe auxiliary reservoir dit. Depending upon the physical dimensions ofthe various components of the recording device lli), it may even benecessary tO provide some means for opening the reservoir il to theatmosphere in order to fill it initially. However, if such means isprovided, it should be possible to seal the auxiliary reservoir forsubsequent normal operation of the device ll?.

Once a supply of ink has been stored in the auxiliary reservoir fil, therecording device lil is ready for operation. This is accomplished in theusual manner by actuating the motors 27 and 3l to drive the pen arm 17and move the pen l across the paper l2. As the recording operationproceeds, ink is fed from the auxiliary reservoir il through the conduit43 and upwardly by capillary action through the tube 47 to the pen. Noink is su plied to the pen from the main ink supply 53, since the valve51 remains closed throughout the recording operation. Thus, the ink fedto the pen is restricted to that available from the auxiliary reservoir,and for this reason the reservoir must hold enough ink to complete anormal recording operation on that portion of the paper sheet 12disposed on the platen 11. Since the ink flow, in a recording operation,is quite limited, this does not place an undue burden on the capacity ofthe auxiliary reservoir 4i and, indeed, a relatively small reservoir maybe employed.

When the recording operation is complete, the paper feed control 3S isenergized and supplies an actuating signal to the motor 33 to advancethe paper web 12 across the recording base il and thereby present a newrecording sheet for use. Simultaneously, this actuating signal issupplied to the valve 51 and opens the valve, permitting a iow of inkfrom the main supply 43 through the conduits 44 and 45 to the supplytubes 47 and d8. Surface tension within the capillary tubes 47 and 19prevents ilooding of the new recording surface that is being led intorecording position on the base 11. However, the ink flows through thetube 48 and replenishes the supply in the reservoir sac 4l. When thepaper feeding operation is completed, the control device 35 operates tointerrupt the energizing signal supplied to the devices 33 and 5l. Thedevice 10 is then ready for the next recording operation.

During a recording operation, the auxiliary reservoir dit movesconcurrently with the movements of the pen 18.

iccordingly, there are no substantial variations in the static anddynamic pressure conditions obtaining between the auxiliary inl;reservoir and the pen. Consequently, the ink supply remains essentiallyconstant and skipping and liooding are eiiectively minimized during therecording operation.

ln the foregoing description, it has been assumed that the recordingmedium comprises the continuous paper web 12. However, the presentinvention is equally applicable to an arrangement in which individualpaper sheets or the like are fed to the recording position on the platen1l. rl`hat is, it makes no diiierence whether the recording sheetscomprise individual sections of a continuous web, as illustrated, orphysically separate sheets. f course, more elaborate pen structures canbe substituted for the simple cantilever tube and nib illustrated inFiG. l without adversely alectng operation of the ink supply system otthe present invention. Moreover, the invention is of substantialadvantage even in recording devices in which the recording base 11 isnot disposed perpendicular to the horizontal, as illustrated in FIG. 1.Thus, the invention may be applied to a receiver in which the recordingbase lll is horizontally disposed, although it is especiallyadvantageous where the recording base is inclined to some extent fromthe horizontal. ln this regard, it should be noted that the expressionvertically disposed, as used in the appended claims, is intended toapply to any recording surface that is substantially displaced fromhorizontal alignment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred form of valve construction for the inksupply valve l. As shown therein, the valve S1 comprises a irst housingsection 61 into which a second housing section 62 is threaded. Anon-magnetic closure member 63 extends across the open ends of the twohousing members 6i and 62, sealing off interior ot the housing 62 fromthe housing 61 and defining a closed chamber 64 within the housingsection 62. The chamber 6d is completely sealed except for two ports 65and 66, aiiorded by suitable couplings for connecting the chamber 64 tothe ink conduits 44 and 45, respectively.

A solenoid coil 67 is disposed within the housing section 6l of thevalve 5l, the axis of the coil being aligned with the outlet port 66 ofthe valve. T he port 66 is provided with a valve seat 68 disposed withinthe chamber 64, the valve seat preferably being of conicalconfiguration. A conical valve member 69 is normally seated on the valveseat 66; the valve member 69 is mounted upon an armature member '71 thatextends axially of the valve chamber 64 and into a guide opening in acylindrical guide member 72 that is mounted at the end of the chamber 64adjacent the closure member 63. A spring 73 is disposed in encompassingrelation to the armature member 71 and normally maintains the valvemember 69 in the seated or closed position as shown in FIG. 2.

During a normal recording operation, the Valve 51 re mains unenergized.The spring 73 holds the valve closed at this time. During a paper feedoperation, however, as described hereinabove, the coil 67 is energizedand the magnetic field of the coil pulls the armature member 71 to theleft, as seen in FIG. 2, against the biasing force aiorded by the spring73. The movement of the armature 71 is quite small, but is sufcient toclear the valve member 6@ from its engagement of the valve seat 68. Whenthis happens, the valve is open and a continuous connection is providedfrom the initial ink conduit 44 through the chamber 64 to the furtherink conduit 45. Thus, the relatively simple valve arrangement shown inFIG. 2 provides a convenient and economical controllable inl; supplyvalve for utilization in the recording device l@ of FlG. l.

Hence, While preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedand illustrated, it is to be understood that they are capable ofvariation and modification, and I therefore do not Wish to be limited tothe precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall Within the purview of the followingclaims.

l claim: l. A recording device for a graphic communication recordingstation comprising a recording base for supporting a record-receivingsheet, sheet-feed means for replacing the record-receiving sheet on therecording base, and control means for actuating the sheet-feed means,said recording device comprising:

a pen; means for moving the pen across said base to record data on arecord-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir;

means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to the pen formovement therewith, with the reservoir mounted at a predeterminedelevation relative to the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel withthe pen to the main ink supply;

an ink supply valve interposed in the ink conduit means between the mainink supply and the pen and reser voir;

and means connecting the supply valve to said control means to open thevalve during intervals in which the sheet-feed means is actuated and tomaintain the valve closed otherwise, restricting the feeding of ink tothe pen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliaryreservoir.

2. A recording device for a graphic communication recording stationcomprising a substantially planar vertically disposed recording base forsupporting a recordreceiving sheet, electrically actuated sheet-feedmeans for removing a record-receiving sheet from the recording base andreplacing it with a fresh sheet, and control means for supplying anactuating signal to the sheet-feed means, said recording devicecomprising:

a pen, mounted upon a vertically extending support arm;

means for moving the pen arm vertically and horizontally across saidbase to record data on a recordreceiving sheet disposed on the recordingbase;

an auxiliary inl; reservoir;

means for mounting the auxiliary ink reservoir on said 3,1 'F pen armadjacent said pen and at a predetermined elevation relative to the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel withthe pen to the main ink supply;

a normally closed solenoid-operated ink supply valve interposed in theinl; conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen andreservoir;

and means for applying the sheet-feed actuating signal to the ink supplyvalve solenoid to open the valve only during intervals in which thesheet-feed means is actuated, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen,during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

3. A recording device for a graphic communication recording stationcomprising a substantially planar vertically disposed recording base forsupporting a portion of record-receiving web, electrically actuated feedmeans for moving a record-receiving web across the recording base topresent a clean recording surface, and control means for supplying anactuating signal to the feed means, said recording device comprising:

a pen;

means for moving the pen across said base to record data on arecord-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir comprising a ilexible sac;

means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to said penfor movement therewith with the reservoir mounted at approximately thesame elevation as the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel withthe pen to the main inl: supply;

a normally closed electrically actuatable ink supply valve interposed inthe ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen andreservoir;

and means for supplying the actuating signal to the ink supply valve toopen the valve only during intervals in which the feed means isactuated, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, during recording,to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

4. A recording device for a graphic communication recording stationcomprising a recording base, for supporting a record-receiving sheet,electrically actuated sheetfeed means for removing a record-receivingsheet from the recording base and replacing it with a fresh sheet, andcontrol means for supplying an actuating signal to the sheet-fed means,said recording device comprising:

a pen support arm;

a pen mounted at one end of `the support ann adjacent the recordingbase;

means for moving the pen support arm vertically and horizontallyrelative to said base to record data on a record-receiving sheetdisposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir comp-rising a ilexible sac;

means mounting `the auxiliary ink reservoir on said pen arm immediatelyadjacent said pen;

a main ink supply;

flexible ink conduit means comprising capillary tubing extending alongthe pen support arm and connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallelwith the pen to `the main ink supply;

normally closed electrically actuatable ink supply valve interposed inthe ink conduit means between the main ink supply and the pen andreservoir;

and means `for supplying the sheet-feed actuating signal to the inksupply valve to open the valve only `during intervals in which thesheetafeed means is actuated, restricting the feeding of inl; to thepen, during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

5. A recording device for a ygraphic communication recording stationcomprising:

a recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet;

a pen;

means for moving the pen across said base to record data on arecord-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir;

`means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to said pen`for movement therewith with the reservoir maintained at a predeterminedconstant elevation relative to the pen;

a main inl; supply;

ink conduit means connecting the auxiliary reservoir in parallel withthe pen to the main supply;

normally closed ink supply valve interposed in the ink conduit meansbetween the main ink supply and the pen and reservoir;

and. means for opening the ink supply valve only during intervalsbetween recording operations, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen,during recording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

6. A recording device for a graphic communication recording stationcomprising:

a recording base for supporting a record-receiving sheet;

a pen;

means for moving the pen across said base to record data on arecord-receiving sheet disposed on the recording base;

an auxiliary ink reservoir comprising a resilient ilexile inkproof sac;

means mechanically connecting the auxiliary ink reservoir to said penfor movement therewith with the reservoir maintained at a predeterminedconstant elevation relative to the pen;

a main ink supply;

ink conduit means including a supply conduit connecting the auxiliaryreservoir to the main inl; supply, said ink conduit means furtherincluding a capillary tube connected from the pen to the medial portionof the supply conduit;

and means for opening the ink supply valve only during intervals betweenrecording operations, restricting the feeding of ink to the pen, duringrecording, to that available from the auxiliary reservoir.

No references cited.

1. A RECORDING DEVICE FOR A GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION RECORDING STATIONCOMPRISING A RECORDING BASE FOR SUPPORTING A RECORD-RECEIVING SHEET,SHEET-FEED MEANS FOR REPLACING THE RECORD-RECEIVING SHEET ON THERECORDING BASE, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE SHEET-FEED MEANS,SAID RECORDING DEVICE COMPRISING: A PEN; MEANS FOR MOVING THE PEN ACROSSSAID BASE TO RECORD DATA ON A RECORD-RECEIVING SHEET DISPOSED ON THERECORDING BASE; AN AUXILIARY INK RESERVOIR; MEANS MECHANICALLYCONNECTING THE AUXILIARY INK RESERVOIR TO THE PEN FOR MOVEMENTTHEREWITH, WITH THE RESERVOIR MOUNTED AT A PREDETERMINED ELEVATIONRELATIVE TO THE PEN;